Device for selecting and presenting in any order different weftthreads in continuous feed looms



United States Patent [72] Inventor Vittorio Scherillo Milan, Italy [2]] Appl. No. 747,683 [22] Filed July 25, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 22, 1970 [73] Assignee Snam Progetti S.p.A.

Milan, Italy a company of Italy [32] Priority July 28, 1967 Italy [31 No. l89l0A/67 [54] DEVICE FOR SELECTING AND PRESENTING IN ANY ORDER DIFFERENT WEF'ITHREADS IN CONTINUOUS FEED LOOMS 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. 139/122 [51 Int. Cl. D03d 47/38 [50] Field otSearch 139/122,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,303 11/1966 Ancet et a1. 139/122 3,092,150 6/1963 Brimans et al. 139/122W FOREIGN PATENTS 1,480,838 4/1967 France 139/122W 1,489,802 5/1967 France 139/122W 1,002,093 8/1965 Great Britain 139/ 122W Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon AnorneyRalph M. Watson ABSTRACT: A single unit both selects the desired weft thread from a plurality of stationary weft thread supplies according to a prefixed program and presents the selected weft thread at a constant, predetermined angle of inclination with the weft thread carrier element so as to be hooked by the carrier and carried into the shed of the cloth being formed. The weft thread selector needles are vertically arranged in a row extending along the line of direction of the axis of rotation of the sley and also of the direction of movement of the weft thread carrier element. Preferably, the row of selector needles extends at a slight angle to the lines of direction of the sley rotation axis and carrier element movement. The driving mechanism is mechanically balanced and arranged so as to reduce fatigue on the biasing springs.

PATENIED 05222 I970 SHEET 1 BF 4 lNVf/VTOR VITTORIO SCHERILLO FIG.2

ATTORNEY PATENTED IJEC22|97B 3; 548 886 SHEEI 3 OF 4 INVENTOR. Fig.7 V/rrano Jaws/4L0 DEVICE FOR SELECTING AND PRESENTING IN ANY ORDER DIFFERENT WEFTTI-IREADS IN CONTINUOUS FEED LOOMS The present invention relates to a unitary device for selecting and presenting in any order one or more different weft threads which maybe suitably applied to looms with a continuous feed of. the weft threads, whether they are of the guided carrier or of the launched carrier type, wherein the weft thread is suitably selected fromone ormore fixed bobbins arranged outside the cloth, and presented before the weft thread carrying element.

In general, weft threads coming fromfixed bobbins remain always connected to the fell of the cloth and pass through eye elements, called selectors. Heretofore,these selectors have been arranged in parallel and horizontally over-the loom batten, on a side, and perpendicular to the axis of the batten, and have been designed to bring the selected weft thread outwardly, which is then lowered by a separate, presenting lever.

Thus, it is the present practice for thework of selecting and presenting the weft thread to be carried out in two operations and by two different members. In a first operation, a mechanism, driven by a band-programmer through feeling needles (as many as there are selectors) so as to be lowered or lifted according to the fixed program, selects. the weft thread and by means of said selectors brings said weft thread outwardly and presents it before a presenting lever; then a further mechanism, acting on said presenting lever, determines the lowering of this letter and thereby brings the weft thread before the carrier.

Separate presenting and selecting systems clearly require a certain working time period and therefore are disadvantageous as they limit the maximum speed at which the loom may run.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to overcome this drawback of the prior art and to'construct a device allowing the highest running speeds of the loom by reducing to the lowest value the time for selecting andpresenting the weft thread to the loom.

Briefly described, it has been found that the object of the invention is achieved by vertically arranging the weft thread selectors over one side of the loom batten in a row which extends in the direction of the axis of rotation of the loom batten, whereby the selectors upon actuation execute I a downward movement to thereby present the desired weft thread to the carrier element, to be hooked and subsequently presented to the cloth. l

A further essential feature of the invention resides in that the different selectors are each driven in their downward movements through a distance different from each other, so that all said selectors present their own weft thread before the carrier element at the same angle of inclination to the direction of movement of the carrier element.

The mechanism for driving the weft thread selector needles is synchronizedwith the drive mechanism for the loom batten and the weft thread carrier, which are controlled by the usual band-programmer through feeling needles.

The invention is illustrated in detail by the enclosed drawings representing a preferred form of practical execution, given only by way of example, as it will be understood that many constructional variants may be conceived within the range of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective. view, partly sectional and partly diagrammatic, illustrating, in a conventional loom ,machine having a continuous weftthread feed, a weft thread selecting and presenting unit constructed in accordance with the invention, the view illustrating the weft thread selecting needles vertically arranged in a row extending along the line of direction of the axis of rotation of the loom batten and also of the reciprocating stroke of the weft thread carrier element;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the loom and weft thread selecting and presenting unit shown in FIG. 1, the view illustrating the varying lengths of the selector needle driving levers;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the vertical arrangement of the selector needles and the different downward movement performed by each selector needle in order to present a weft thread extending through the eye thereof at the same angle of inclination a with the line of direction of movement of the weft thread carrier element;

FIG. 4 is a front longitudinal sectional view of the weft thread selecting and presenting unit of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary diagrammatic view of the driving mechanism for each of the selector needles of the selecting and presenting unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary diagrammatic view showing in detail the vertical hollow rod portion of the driving mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the driving system for the lifting bridge which serves to raise and lower the vertical hollow rod shown in F IG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the mechanism for simultaneously lifting the feeling needles (which feel the program band pattern) at the end of the program band pattern so that the cycle may be repeated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of {the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 a conventional continuous feed loom machine, in which reference numerals I and 2 indicate the warp threads, 3 designates the finished cloth and 4 identifies the different weft threads which, coming from a plurality of suitable bobbins E, pass through the eyes of the selector needles 5, more fully described hereinafter and remain connected to the fell F of cloth 3. The loom reed is shown at G, supported by the sley 7, and in the conventional manner, serves to beat the weft thread 4, introduced by the carrier element 15 into the shed formed by warp threads 1 and 2, against the edge H of the finished cloth 3. V i

In accordance with the invention, means are provided in a single unitary device for selecting and presenting in any order different weft threads from a pluralityof separate, stationary weft thread supplies to the weft thread carrier element.

To this end, and as preferably embodied, a main housing 6 is rigidly fixed on one side of the loom over the batten 7, and contains all the mechanisms for d riving the selector needles 5.

The driving mechanism for the selector needles 5 includes a plurality of levers 9 adapted to be articulated about a small shaft 8. Each one of said levers 9 presents at its end a horizontal slot 10, wherein insertion is made of a pin 11 suitably jointed to an associated selector needle 5. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, selectors 5 are vertically arranged in a row which extends along the axis of rotation 12 of the loom batten 7 and are guided, in their downward movement engendered by the rotation of the corresponding levers 9 around the shaft 8, more fully described hereinafter, by a guide housing 13.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, guide housing 13 is open on two sides and rigidly fixed to main housing 6. Inside housing 13, there is suitably secured a series of cylindrical rods C in the interspaces of which are inserted the weft thread selector needles 5. Said interspaces thus constitute vertical guiding slots for needles 5 which are also guided in their downward motion by the apertures in the bottom of housing 13, into which the selector needles 5 are inserted.

Guide housing 13 further includes vertical slots 14, opened inwardly of the housing, which permit the levers 9 to enter the guide housing 13 and to rotate around their own axes 8, guided by the vertical slots 14.

The horizontal slots 10 of the levers 9 have a length such as to allow the rotary motion of the levers to be converted, by means of the sliding of the corresponding pins ll, into vertical reciprocatory motion in the selector needles 5. Needles 5 are adapted to pass from a first position A to a second position B,

so as to present the corresponding weft thread 4-before the carrier 15 along the line of direction 16, whereat the thread 4 is hooked by carrier 15.

As the different selector needles 5 are arranged in a row extending along the axis 12 of the batten 7 and therefore in the stroke direction of the carrier element 15, and as each of the needles 5 must present the corresponding weft thread in the line of direction 16, which is at an angle of inclination to the line of direction L of movement of the carrier 15, the vertical shifting between the first and second positions A,B of the selector nearest to the cloth 3 must be greater than the vertical shifting A B of the selector farthest from the cloth. (See FIG. 3). Accordingly, the different drivinglevers 9 associated with the selectors 5 must have correspondingly different lengths, i.e., the lever corresponding to the selector nearestto the cloth must be longer than the lever corresponding to the selector farthest from said cloth. The differing lengths of levers 9 is best seen in FIG. 2, which also shows the orientation of the row N of selector needles 5 at a slight angle to the sley rotation axis 12, the latter being parallel todrive shaft 33, morefully described hereinafter, and the breastplate orfront side M of seen in FIG. 6, a pair of spacing elements 21 extend transversely across wall 19 of hollow rod 17. A pin 22, also extending transversely of rod 17, provides a connection with the corresponding selector driving lever ,9, by means of open ended slot 23. Also inside the hollow rod 17, and by means of trans verse pin 24, is mounted a bell crank member 25. On the side of hollow rod 17 there is formed a vertical slot 26, through which passes a cross element 27, hereinafter calleda lifting bridge, which is vertically reciprocated in synchronism with the movement of loom batten 7 and the weft thread carrier 15. Lifting bridge 27 is designed to impart a vertical motion to the hollow rods 17 of the selector driving mechanisms, which is the same for all of the hollow rods, and therefore passes through all the vertical slots 26 of said rods. Said slots 26 have for this purpose a length to allow a whole stroke of the bridge 27 therewithin without the hollow rods participating in the movement. I

- Referring now more particularly to FIG. 7 of the drawings,

there is shown the mechanism imparting the vertical reciprocatory movement to the lifting bridge 26. This mechanism comprises two vertical rods 28, 29, which slide vertically in suitable guides 30, the bridge. 27 being fixedly secured thereto. Each one of vertical rods 28,29 presents at its lower end a small roller follower 31 riding on a cam 32 keyed on a driving shaft 33 synchronized with the drive means (not shown) for the loom batten 7 and the weft carrier element 15.

' The shape of the cams 32 determines an upward and, through compression springs 34 and 35, downward movement of the bridge 27. Compression springs 34 and 35: are each inserted into the vertical rods 28 and 29 and bear against a fixed surface of housing 6.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bell crank member 25 includes a slot 36 wherein is inserted a suitable pin 37 rigidly connected to the first arm 38 of a lever 38 articulated on pin 39, whose second arm 40 presses, by means of tensionspring 41, head 42 of a feeling needle 43, which feels a suitable program band P (FIG. 4) carried by the drum 44.

- Slot 36 of bell crank 25 is shaped in such a way as to pivot the finger projection 45.0ver the bridge 27 when the arm 38 of the lever 38, and accordingly the pin- 37, rise, and is further of such a length as-to allow, by permitting the pin 37 to slide ,,freely inside the same slot, vertical movement of bell crank 25, and accordingly, the hollow vertical rod 17.

Feeling needles 43, when'there are no holes, press against the program band, and therefore could pierce it and thereby alter;the-program. In. order toovercome this drawback the pressure exerted by the needles 43 on the band P is reduced by providing each bell crank with a back extension 48 which serves as a balancing element, permitting pivotal movement of the crank by lever 38 without subjecting it to a large force. This balancing permits the use of a spring 41 having only a small tensile strength, and therefore reduces the pressure of the feeling needles 43 on the program band.

The operation of the selector needle drive mechanism occurs as follows:

The feeling needles 43 feel the program band and the presence of a hole-in the fixed program pattern determines the lowering, made easier by compression spring 46, of a particular feeling needle. Lowering of a needle 43 causes, on account of the spring 41, acorresponding lowering of the arm 40, and therefore arising of the arm 38',-of the lever 38 and, accordingly, of the pin 37; which, sliding in the slot 36, engenders pivotal movement. of finger 45 over the bridge 27, finger 45 normally resting in a positionoutside the stroke of the bridge. Bridge 27, hooking'finger 45 in its upward movement, raises the bell crank member 25 and, accordingly, the hollow rod 17, which at its turn, causes the associated lever 9 to pivot about its own axis 8, and thereby determine the vertical lowering of the corresponding selector 5.

The program band device for driving the selectors 5 requires, as it will be understood, that all the feeling needles 43 rise when the band achieves onecomplete rotation for presenting the new pattern of the established program, this occurring at each hit ofthe loom batten 7. In accordance with the present invention, this simultaneous raising of needles 43 is realized by the tappet mechanism shown in FIG. 8, which allows high speeds of running of, the loom.

Thus, there is provided a'lever 49, articulated at one end on the previously mentioned pin 39, which presents at its free end a bridge element 50, presenting as many holes as there are feeling needles 43; Needles 43, inserted in said holes, are thereby all lifted at the same time, by means of the small heads 42 thereof, when the bridge element 50 is, at its turn, lifted by the rotation of the lever 49. Lever 49, through a connecting rod 51, is connected to a bell crank lever 52, articulated at the center on the pin 53 and presenting a slot 54, wherein enters a pin 55 secured to a block 56 rigidly connected to a tappet rod 57. Tappet rod 57 may slide on a suitable fixed support and is driven by a cam 58 keyed on the driving shaft 33, the latter beingsynchronized with the movement of loom batten 7 and the weft carrier 15. Compression spring 59 biases tappet rod 57 against cam 58.

' The operation of the program band occurs asfollows:

When the drum 44 of the program band, at its turn I synchronized with the movement of loom batten 7 and the weft carrier 15, must effect its rotation for presenting the new pattern of the fixed program, the cam 58 presses against the tappet rod 57 which,-overcoming the biasing force of compression spring 59, shifts and causes a clockwise rotation of the bell crank 52. The clockwise rotation of crank 52 is transmitted-to thelever 49through the connecting rod 51; which, through the bridge element 50, lifts the feeling needles 43.

lclaim:

1. In a loom having a. continuous weft thread feed from a pluralityof separate, stationary weft thread supply means,

, wherein the weft threads are at all times connected to the fell of the cloth-being formed in the loom, and are adapted to be hooked by a weft thread carrier element and introduced by said carrier element tothe shed in the loom and thereafler beat. against said shed by the, oscillating motion of the batten of the loom to thereby be formed into the finished cloth, the improvement therein which comprises a single, unitary device for selecting in any order different weft threads from said weft thread supply means and presentingthe selected weft thread to said weft thread carrier element, including:

a program band driving member carrying a predetermined band pattern thereon; a plurality of program feeling needles;

a plurality of selector needles;

said selector needles each including at their free ends an eye through which a weft thread passes from one of said weft thread supply means, and said plurality of selector needles furtherbeing vertically arranged over one side of saidjloom batten in a row extending along the line of directionof the axis of rotation of said loom batten; means operatively associating each of said plurality of selector needles with one of said feeling needles; said means adapted to selectively displace said selector needles in response to direction from said feeling needles controlled by said program band; said means including means for displacing each of said selector needles a predetermined distance so that each weft thread from said weft thread supply means is presented to said weft thread carrier element by said selector needles at a constant angleof inclination to the line of the direction of movement of said carrier element. 2. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance of downward movement of each of said selector needles is carried out by selector needle driving levers having different lengths.

3. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 2, wherein said means operatively associating each of said plurality of selector needles with one of said feeling needles includes a vertical sliding hollow rod, said rod including a vertical slot containing a lifting mechanism and an articulation for said selector driving lever, a first bell crank pivotally mounted to said hollow rod and including a slotfslidably receiving therein a pin secured to a lever spring-pressed at one of its ends against the head of said feeling needle.

4. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 3, wherein each of said hollow rods are connected at their opposed ends by two spacing elements.

5. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 4,

wherein said lifting mechanism comprises a single lifting bridge rigidly connected at .its ends with two vertical sliding rods riding on rollers, each of which follow on a pair of opposed carns keyed to a main driving shaft synchronized with said loom batten and said weft thread carrier element.

6. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 5, wherein said slot of said hollow rod is longer than the vertical movement achieved by said lifting mechanism.

7. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 6, wherein said first bell crank includes a balancing back extension portion.

8. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 7, wherein said slot of said first bell crank has a length to permit said pin received therein to slide freely during the lilting of said bell crank by said lifting mechanism.

9. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 8, including means for simultaneously lifting all of said feeling needles upon the completion of one complete rotation of said band pattern, said means including a tappet rod spring-pressed against cam means keyed for rotation with said main driving shaft, a second bell crank pivotally mounted to said tappet rod by means of a slot in one arm thereof receiving a pin member rigidly secured to a block member, a connecting rod pivotally interconnected between the other arm of said second bell crank and a lever member pivotally mounted at one end thereof, and a bridge element secured to the free end of said lever member, said bridge member including a plurality of apertures passed through by said feeling needles.

10. A selecting and presenting device according to claim 9, wherein said selector needles are guided in their downward movement by a guide housing meansincluding a series ofvertically extending, spaced guide rods between which said selectors slide, and further including vertical slots which receive said selector needle driving levers. 

